Mattress protector



July 3o, 1929. H L- KAUFMANN 1,722,429

MATTRESS PROTECTOR Filed oct. 20, 1927 4 sheets-sheet l T :iE-2555 In Y "l July 3o, 1929. H- L- KAUFMANN 1,722,429

MATTRESS PROTECTOR Filed Oct.. 20, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 166 d 155 i 4 l /h r I l 2 d /l a A 1/5/ k7 [15 ATTORNEYS.

July 30, 1929. H' L KAUFMANN I 1,722,429

MATTRESS PROTECTOR Filed Oct. 20, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 .5?? 5, v /lffazafw/m,

July 30, 1929 H' L' KAUF MANN 1,722,429

MATTRESS PRoTEdToR Filed oct. A20, 1927 4 sheets-sheet 4 w W a Y w m n 2 W Patented July 3G, 1929.

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MATTRESS PROTECTOR.

Application filed October 20, 1927. Serial No. 227,505.

This invention relates to an improved mattress protector particularly adapted for hospital beds and the like.

The object of the invention is to provide improved mattress Vprotecting means of a simple, eflicient, inexpensive nature that can be quickly and easily applied and removed, that will afford a protective covering securely held smoothly stretched out over the mattress either when the mattress is flat or when the same is supported with parts angularly disposed.

The invention comprehends mattress protecting means comprising a sheet of relatively light, flexible, protective material provided with a hem extending along a marginal portion thereof at either side, a plurality of spreading or stretcher rod sections arranged within each of the said hems end to end and flexibly connected together, and independent means for connecting the several rod sections to a bed.

A particularly important novel characteristic of the present invention resides in the specialmeans provided for flexibly connecting the end portions of adjoining rod sections together whereby a simple, efficient, light weight, inexpensive construction is afforded, and which can be. flexed or adjusted to nicely t over a bend or fold of angularly disposed parts of a mattress.

4The invention, with other objects and advantages thereof, and the particular construction, combination and arrangement of parts comprising the same, will be understood from the hereinafter contained detailed description when consideredV in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming part hereof, and illustrating embodiments of the invention.

In the drawings: y v

Figure l is a top plan view of mattress protecting means constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a detail longitudinal section, on

an enlarged scale, on the line 2 2 of Fig` ure 1.

Fig. 3 is a detail view, on an enlarged scale, with parts shown in section and side elevation.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the protector applied to a hospital bed adjusted to support sections of the mattress at an angle to each other.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the protector applied to the mattress when the same extends in flat condition throughout.

Fig. Gis a detail view of one of the members for connecting the rod sections together.

Fig. 6'C17 is a transverse section on the line (in of Figure 5. Fig. 7 is a top plan view, on a reduced scale, of a modified construction.

Fig. 8 `is a detail longitudinal section on the line 8 8 of Figure 7.

Fig. 9 is a detail section, on an enlarged scale of a portion of the protector sheet and part of the attaching means. l

Fig. l0 is a top plan View of a portion of the protector sheet and part of the attaching means illustrated in Figure 9.

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Vxhile specific preferred embodiments of the invention are `illustrated in the drawings, it will of course be understood that changes and modifications may be made in the particular construction shown, and the invention embodied in other forms, as will vappeal .to those skilled in the art and falling within the scope of the appended claims, without depart- 'ing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to a detail description of the particular embodiment of the invention illusl trated in Figures l to 6a of the drawings, l

designates the sheet of flexible protective material constructed of relatively light rubber sheeting or other suitable material. The sheet l is provided at either side along a marginal portion thereof with a hein in which a plurality of spreader rod sections are arrod sections 2 3 a at either side of thev sheet l are,` as shown, of the saine length andr correspondingly arranged to extend opposite each other along similar lengths or sections of the sheet l, and the spreading rods 2 3a in each of the hems 2 3, are flexibly connected at theirV adjacent ends, the flexible connections or jointsv between the Vrod sections 2"L 321 at either side of the sheet 1 being located in alignment transversely ofthe sheet.

The means provided for flexibly connecting the rod sections 2f 3n of the respective hems 2 3 comprises flexible tubular members or ranged end to end. In this particular exemsleeves 4 which are adapted to tightly iit over end portions of the spreading rod sections n Ba. The tubular connecting members or sleeves 4 are preferably, as shown, constructed of rubber tubing. They are of an interior diameter less than that of the rod sections 2 3, the relative size of the interior diameter of the tubular members or sleeves 4 and the diameter of the rod sections 2& 3a being such thatthe tubular members or sleeves 4 will tightly lit over and grip the end 'portions of the rod sections 2& 32 The tubular members or sleeves are of sufficient length to engage well over a substantial portion of adjacent end portions of the rod sections 2:1 3a with a central intermediate portion extending therebetween, as shown, said tubular members or sleeves 4 securely connecting tho rod sections 2 3a together and acting to yieldably maintain the same extending in a straight line to constitute a continuous straight spreading rod in the hem, and providing for the ready angular disposition of the rods under pressure.

The hems 2 3 at either side of the protec-V tor sheet'l are shown closed at one end by stitching 5 and at the other end b y eyelets 6.

At either side centrally of its ends the sheet 1 is provided with transverse slits 7 extending inwardly thereof from its marginal edges between the hems 2 3. The slits 7 and the flexible members or sleeves 4 connecting the rod sections 2a 3a, at either side of the sheet Vare disposed opposite each other in lines z b, CZ, and f, and as will be understood the different sections of the sheet 1 with the separate spreading rod sections 2 3 associated therewith are adaptedV to be arranged to extend at an angle to each other.

Separate means is provided forr connecting the hems 2 3, and the rod sections 2" 31 to a bed. The means for this purpose comprises flexible strap members 8. 9 designates coupling devices for connecting one end of the strap members 8 to the spreading and stretching rod sections 2 3a. Each coupling device 9 comprises two plate members having semicircular shaped portions 9ZL to fit around ahem and a spreading rod section, and flat portions 9b, which are secured together by a rivet 10 so that said semi-circular portions are tightly clamped about the hem and spreading rod. The semi-circular shaped portions 9a are provided on their inner faces with pointed proj ecting portions or spurs 9 to pierce the hems 2 8, and extend into the rod sections 2a 3a to secure the coupling devices in fixed posi- Y tion on the hems 2 3, and rod sections 2a 3a.

The pointed projecting portions or spurs 9C are shown, in this instance, as formed by portions pressed or stamped out of the semicircular portions 9a. The rivet 10 at one side is provided with an extension 10a shaped at its outer end to form a head to engage a spring socket member 11 on one end of the igea-ree flexible strap members 8. Each of the strap members 8 at its other end has a snap hook 12 to engage a part of a bed spring, the end of the strap member being looped through the eye of the snap hook 12 and provided with a buckle 14 to provide for adjusting the length of the strap.

The protector device, hereinbefore described, is adapted to be used with a bed having its mattress in fiat condition, as illustrated in Figure 5 of the drawings, and also when the mattress is supported with sections thereof disposed at an angle to each other, as when the head section is raised, or when the mattress is supported in Fowlers position, as illustrated in Figure 4 of the drawings. In the use of the device the flexible strap members 8 are arranged to extend between the mattress 15 and the bed spring 16, one end of the strap members 8 being connected to the bed spring 16 by engaging the snap hook 12 with an eye or loop of the bed spring 16, and the other end of the strap members 8 being connected to the stretching and spreading rod sections 2 8 of the sheet 1 by engaging the spring socket members 11 at one end of the strap members 8 with the heads of the extensions 10"L on the coupling devices 9, said strap members being adjusted so that the proper tension is exerted through the spreadl ing and stretching rod. sections 2& 3a upon the sheet 1 to hold the same tightly and smoothly drawn over the 'mattress The sheet 1, as shown, is preferably slightly greater in width than the width of the mattress so that when arranged thereover the marginal portions of the sheet 1 with the hems 2 3, and the spreading rod sections 2* 3, lie at the sides of the mattress, as shown. l/hen the protector device is applied to a bed with the mattress supported in Fowlers position, the head section 15a elevated, and the intermediate and foot sections 15b 15c raised vertically at an angle, the sheet is arranged on the mattress as illustrated'in Figure 4 of the drawings, the central portion of the sheet having the slits 7 being disposed at the bend between the head section 15a of the mattress and the intermediate section 15b thereof, and with the flexible connecting members'or sleeves 4 in the. hems 2 2 or the hems 3 8 disposed at the fold between the intermediate section 15b of the mattress and the foot section 15C. In the particular form of the-device illustrated in Figures 1 to 6 of the drawings, the hems 2 3, and the rod sections 2& 3L of said hems are of equal length, and the deviceis reversible, that is either half of the sheet 1 atl the sides of the slits 7 may be employed to cover the head section 15a of the mattress or the intermediate and foot sections 15b 15c. The sheet 1 can be quickly removed and replaced by simply disengaging the springy socket members 11 of the ilexible strap members 8 from the heads of the extensions a of the rivets 10, or snapping the same thereover.

The modified construction illustrated in Figures 7 and 8 of the drawings is the same as that previously described and shown in Figures l to 6a, except that in this instance the sheet is not provided with slits 7 at the sides and the same has three hems at either side instead of two. In this view 17 designates the protector sheet provided ateither side with hems 18, 19 and 20. 18--19f-f20'd designate two rod sections in each of said hems, and 21 are tubular members or sleeves connecting the rod sections'18a19a20a.

It will be noted that by the particular construction and arrangement of parts hereinbefore described, a protector device of a simple, practical, efficient nature is afforded that provides for securely holding the protector sheet smoothly stretched out free from wrinkles over a mattress, the protector being readily applicable to a mattress when the same is in flat condition or when the mattress is supported with sections thereof elevated and disposed at an angle. rlhe special means provided for flexibly connecting the rod sections is simple, efhcient, inexpensive and pro-A vides for quickly and easily connecting and assembling the rod sections within the hems. It will also be observed that the particular tubular form of connecting means protects the hems against wear or injury by the ends of the rod sections.

Subject matter disclosed in this application but not claimed, is claimed in my co-pending application Serial No. 709,169 filed April 26, 1924. r

lfvlhat I claim is:

1. A protector for mattresses comprising a sheet of flexible protective material provided at either side with a hem along a marginal portion thereof, a plurality of rod sections arranged end to end in each of said hems, and iiexible sleeve members fitting over end portions of adjoining rod sections and flexibly connecting the same together. K

2. A protector for mattresses comprising a sheet of flexibile protective material pronal portion thereof, a plurality of rod secv tions arranged end to end in said hems, and sleeve members constructed of rubber tubing fitting over end portions of vadjoining rod sections and flexibly connecting the same together. Y

4. A protector for mattresses comprising a sheet of flexible protective material provided at either side with a hem along `a marginal portion thereof, a plurality of rod sections arranged end to end in each of said hems, and flexible sleeve members fitting over end portions of adjoining rod'sections and flexibly connecting the same together, said hems being substantially equal in length and oppositely disposed, and the rod sections in one hem being substantially equal in length to the rod sections in the other hem and similarly arranged so that corresponding rod sections of the hems extend opposite each other.

5. A protector for mattresses comprising a sheet of flexible protective material provided at either side with a hem along a marginal portion thereof, a plurality of rod sections arranged end to end in each of said hems, flexible sleeve 'members fitting over end portions of adjoining rod sectionns and fiexibly connecting the same together, said hems being substantially equal in length and oppositely dispose-d, and the rod sections in one hem being substantially equal in length to the rod sections in the other hem and similarly arranged so that corresponding rod sections of the hems extend opposite each other, and independent means for connecting the several rod sections to a bed.

in testimony whereof l hereunto affix my signature.

HENRY L. KAUFMANN. 

